Haji Johanes Cornelis Princen, Ponke, died in Jakarta last
Thursday, (February 28, 2002). Ponke was an amazing and effective advocate
for human rights. His story exceeds any fictional saga. I met him in 1996,
as a member of a delegation investigating Suhartos crackdown on the PRD
political party. I visited Ponke again at his home in 1997. HJC Princens
life spans, illustrates and ameliorates Indonesias dismal human rights
history.

Princen arrived in the Dutch East Indies as a soldier in a police
action against anti-colonial insurgency. After a short while -- I dont
remember how long -- he defected in 1948, out of disgust with the Dutch
killing people he admired. He joined the rebels (a choice never
forgiven by Holland veterans­ see below). After the Dutch withdrew, Ponke
became a citizen of the new nation of Indonesian. He converted to Islam
and remained, a hero of the Indonesian struggle. Sukarno awarded him
Indonesias highest award, the Guerrilla Star. Yet he did not relax ­
he was imprisoned four times by Sukarno and Suharto -- eight years total
-- for criticism of their human rights abuses. It was not his first time
imprisoned; as young man in the Dutch resistance he was sent to a Nazi
concentration camp.

From his imprisonment by Nazis to his last breath last Thursday, Ponke
was an unflinching hero of opposition to suffering authored by
governments, I do not say hero easily. Ponke was so revered by
Indonesians that the Suharto government felt constrained against openly
attacking him ­ though when I visited, his phone was tapped, his mail
intercepted and so on.

Those of us engaged in East Timor especially loved Ponke Princen
because of his early and continuous support of East Timor when, even for
him, it might lead to imprisonment or death . After the 1991 Santa Cruz
Massacre in Dili, five young East Timorese fled to Ponkes house in
Jakarta. Threatened by the military, Ponke saved their lives by
negotiating with an Indonesian general, allowing the young men to leave
for Portugal. (At least one will read this.)

Haji Princen wrote to Xanana Gusmao (likely to be the first President
of East Timor) while Xanana still led the East Timor armed resistance. The
two corresponded after Gusmao was captured and imprisoned in Java. After
reformasi allowed it, Ponke visited Xanana in prison. Xanana later
said, It was a very emotional meeting, and I thanked him for the
support he had given to our people. He then came frequently and we usually
discussed the evolution of the democratic struggle in Indonesia. He
encouraged us in our struggle. East Timor owes a lot to him."

In the 60s, Ponke formed and directed LPHAM (Indonesian Institute
for the Defense of Human Rights ), which I believe is the first
organization in Indonesia devoted specifically to human rights. When I met
him thirty five years later, he was still vitally involved in Indonesian
human rights and a source of accurate information about those who were
attacked at PRD headquarters.

Those in labor struggles remind us that, Labor rights are human
rights. Our friend Ponke saw no distinction. That seamless conscience
was confirmed by Dita Indah Sari, (Indonesian labor activist and Amnesty
International prisoner of conscience). Dita Sari led a memorial gathering
with a brief biography of Poncke. Others then spoke. When I learned who
was at the memorial service, and at the mosque and cemetery, I was struck
by how wide a swath of Indonesia mourned him: former tapols to
members of the government and military.

Once in Jakarta once, a Dutch TV journalist described an abortive 1993
attempt to take Ponke to Holland. They had broadcast a documentary on his
life, then flew him to Amsterdam. Ponkes visa was cancelled while the
plane sat on the runway. The reason given was that Dutch war veterans
threatened to kill him if he tried to enter Holland. This, 45 years after
Ponke defected! (Think Israel/Palestine.) He flew back to Indonesia.

After Ponkes death last week, a Dutch cabinet member hesitantly said
that, Poncke Princen was not a hero, not a martyr nor saint, but first
and foremost a human rights activist.

I am privileged to have known Ponke. He was indeed first a human rights
activist. But I differ. I know personally that he was a great human being
and a hero. I dont know doodly about saints.

Note: For those who would like to fax "the
powers that be" - CallCenter is a Native 32-bit Voice Telephony software
application integrated with fax and data communications... and it's free of charge!
Download from http://www.v3inc.com/